December 26 / 14.52 Fontwell

14.52

Soft

Southern Cranes And Access Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £6317.36
  • 3m 1f 210y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
Southern Cranes And Access Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

OUR TIP

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 415-11 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Suited by testing surfaces and is now 2-2 over fences, winning over C&D and then off 10lb higher at Lingfield (2m7f, soft); looked well held on the latter occasion but came through strongly late on; up a further 6lb but the return to further can suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

12

29th Apr 2023

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

14:15 Sandown

Coolvalla

10st 3lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Out of his depth in Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham Festival; 5-5 over rules fences otherwise, most recently beating Revels Hill by 1l at Exeter (3m6f, good to soft; pair well clear); highly progressive in handicaps, no ground worries, stays well and may not have reached his ceiling yet; shortlisted.

14/1

1st

3

26th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

14:52 Exeter

Coolvalla

11st 9lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Bit off more than he could chew in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham but had been going great guns with four successive wins from 2m7f to 3m3f (three at Fontwell); this is nothing like so demanding as at the Festival but it's still a step up from the grade in which he was winning; respected nonetheless.

8/1

2

14th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 1

17:30 Cheltenham

Coolvalla

11st 7lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: Chris Gordon

Big improvement switched to chasing, with one win at Lingfield and three at Fontwell; 19l and 17l were the last two winning margins, the latest over 3m4f (good to soft) and he goes well in the mud; that handicap form leaves him with a lot to find but he's certainly been impressing at that much lower level.

20/1

5/2

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 31-222

Last run: 30 days

W: 12st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 6yo who won a good-ground maiden hurdle at Warwick in March (2m5f); he was soon switched to fences and made a fair start, seemingly staying 3m well enough at Bangor on latest (heavy) behind one who had dropped in the weights; thereabouts; might improve for cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

1st May 2026

Good

4m 0f 218y

Class 4

19:25 Warwick

Jefferys Cross

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Beaten under 1l in this race last year (Myth Buster pulled up); won't mind the move from Cheltenham given his strong body of work around sharp tracks (including 2-2 in hurdles races here, albeit losing one for interference), and nice break since hard-fought Newbury win; ground fine.

Evs

1st

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

17:16 Newbury

Jefferys Cross

12st 6lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Has a solid record in hunter chases and he chased home last week's Cheltenham hero Barton Snow (did win by 12l) before making light work of Java Point at Southwell (3m, soft; cheekpieces returned); in the mix.

9/2

1st

4

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:15 Southwell

Jefferys Cross

12st 2lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Consistent sort whose record in hunter chases (3m-4m) reads 1232; beaten by main market rival at Ludlow returned to this sphere last time (treated for post-race ataxia); solid and leading claims.

5/4

33/1

  • Place: £3.90

Form: 60-P33

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
His two most recent chase runs haven't been up to much, including when pulled up on soft ground behind Coolvalla over C&D; has work to do from out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

27th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

14:45 Cartmel

Allardyce

10st 2lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Paul Henderson

Not his fault when falling at Fontwell this month but had been pulled up in his three previous outings and now 0-14 in Britain; lot to prove.

33/1

7

10th May 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:15 Fontwell

Allardyce

10st 2lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Paul Henderson

High-mileage 11yo who has looked out of sorts and been pulled up on all three starts this year; urgently needs to prove he still has what it takes; 2lb out of the weights.

33/1

8

22nd Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Warwick

Allardyce

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Paul Henderson

Ex-Irish 11yo who has been campaigned mostly over fences for current yard; pulled up the last twice; not disgraced on last attempt over hurdles but he's on a long losing run.

14/1

Form: 72P-9P

Last run: 26 days

W: 12st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Dual winner at about 3m in early 2021 (heavy/soft) but his modest runs outweigh his good ones in recent times; sights are lowered today but he still has much to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

16:45 Lingfield

Another Emotion

12st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Last win was off 14lb higher at Carlisle (3m, soft) but that was almost two years ago; has form figures of P9PP0 in his last five runs including a tailed-off effort back at Carlisle recently and can only be watched.

20/1

10th

1

6th Feb 2023

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:15 Carlisle

Another Emotion

12st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Warren Greatrex

Defied a 9lb higher mark over C&D (soft) nearly two years ago; subsequent form is dismal apart from a placed effort last February; however, revival looks possible back here with Brian Hughes booked.

8/1

1

26th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

14:52 Fontwell

Another Emotion

12st 2lb

J: Dylan Kitts

T: Warren Greatrex

Dual winner at about 3m in early 2021 (heavy/soft) but his modest runs outweigh his good ones in recent times; sights are lowered today but he still has much to prove.

20/1

Form: 21/PP/

Last run: 647 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Quite progressive 3m chaser in spring 2019 (on soft/good) but things went pear-shaped in points subsequently; off since March 2021 but is well treated on his old form now making debut for new trainer; worth a market check in relation to the yard's other runner Coolvalla.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

26th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

14:52 Fontwell

Djin Conti

11st 10lb

J: Mr Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Quite progressive 3m chaser in spring 2019 (on soft/good) but things went pear-shaped in points subsequently; off since March 2021 but is well treated on his old form now making debut for new trainer; worth a market check in relation to the yard's other runner Coolvalla.

25/1

Form: 34-54P CD

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Landed a hat-trick in staying chases in the second half of 2021, including on soft, but has been a long way below that form this year, including back over hurdles in November; hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

28th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:15 Fontwell

Mister Tickle

11st 7lb

J: Jamie Moore

T: Gary Moore

Apart from his third at Huntingdon in January, he has been most disappointing in the last 18 months, showing little enthusiasm; pulled up over C&D latest (hampered) but perhaps Jamie Moore can inspire him.

12/1

3

10th May 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:15 Fontwell

Mister Tickle

11st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary Moore

Raced with a lot more enthusiasm than has become the norm when third at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft) in January but was quickly back in the doldrums at Plumpton the following month and it's hard to predict the extent to which this regressive 9yo will warm to the task here.

12/1

5

16th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:25 Huntingdon

Mister Tickle

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary Moore

Third over C&D in January on penultimate start but that's some way below his best form and far and away the best he's achieved this season; having a 17lb lower mark than this time last year helps somewhat and his stable has had lots of recent winners.

12/1

Form: 9PFP-P

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Has failed to complete in Ireland and Britain on last four starts and has masses to prove now returned to a staying trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

5th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 199y

Class 4

14:00 Ffos Las

Great Khan

11st 8lb

J: Tom O’Brien

T: Paul Henderson

Failed to complete in Ireland or Britain on last five starts, so has masses to prove; blinkers are enlisted.

50/1

6

26th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

14:52 Fontwell

Great Khan

11st 8lb

J: Jack Wildman

T: Paul Henderson

Has failed to complete in Ireland and Britain on last four starts and has masses to prove now returned to a staying trip.

66/1

Form: P6P5-8 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Won staying chases/hurdle two winters ago; has struggled in a handful of starts since last December but is well treated on anything like his old form; interesting to see if there's any interest in him in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

21st Mar 2023

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 5

16:10 Plumpton

Little Red Lion

11st 4lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Pipe

held up in rear

10/1

6th

7

23rd Jan 2023

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

16:00 Ffos Las

Little Red Lion

11st 3lb

J: Philip Armson

T: David Pipe

Defied higher marks in three handicaps (fences/hurdles) over 2m7f on heavy ground a couple of winters ago before falling in the Eider; however, subsequent form leaves plenty to be desired.

20/1

7

26th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

14:52 Fontwell

Little Red Lion

11st 3lb

J: Philip Armson

T: David Pipe

Won staying chases/hurdle two winters ago; has struggled in a handful of starts since last December but is well treated on anything like his old form; interesting to see if there's any interest in him in the betting.

10/1

Form: 2F-121 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Hasn't had a lot of racing but made it two wins from his last three starts when successful at Wincanton this month (3m2f, good to soft); looked ahead of his mark there and a 6lb higher mark shouldn't be beyond him but more testing ground today would ask a question.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

13th Oct 2025

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

16:45 Hereford

Born At Midnight

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Kathy Turner

Lost his way last season but his Fontwell return was a lot more like it (behind two of these); could build on that run which came after 211 days off.

7/1

4th

2

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

16:50 Fontwell

Born At Midnight

11st 11lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Kathy Turner

Four staying chase wins but lost his form last season and arrives here with plenty to prove.

16/1

7

23rd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:40 Hereford

Born At Midnight

11st 4lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Bill Turner

Won twice at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) last March but returned from a break with two very disappointing runs there in December (cheekpieces added last time) and arrives here with quite a bit to prove.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.10
Straight Forecast £5.78
Tricast £48.41
Trifecta £49.50

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Born At Midnight

RP Ratings:

Jeffery's Cross

SPOTLIGHT:

Coolvalla

TOPSPEED:

Jeffery's Cross

POSTDATA:

Jeffery's Cross

The Guardian:

Jeffery's Cross

The Times:

Coolvalla

Telegraph:

Coolvalla

The Star:

Coolvalla

Daily Mail:

Born At Midnight

D Express:

Born At Midnight

Daily Mirror:

Born At Midnight

The Sun:

Born At Midnight

Daily Record:

Born At Midnight